Territory



(No Model.)

L. J. DE PUY. DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING GASES AND LIQUIDS TO MOVING VEHICLES.

No. 432,121. Patented July 15,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS J. DE PUY, OF PHGENIX, ARIZONA TERRITORY.

DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING GASES AND LIQUIDS T0 MOVING VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,121, dated July 15, 1890.

Application filed November 15, 1889. Serial No. 330,481 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS J. DE PUY,a citizen of the United States, residing at Phoenix, Maricopa county, Territory of Arizona, have invented an Improvement in Devices for Supplying Gases and Liquids to Moving Vehicles; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus adapted for taking in gas or liquid from a suitable main or supply receptacle into a vehicle while in motion.

My invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The main object of my invention is to provide a suitable apparatus connected with a moving vehicle, whereby said vehicle may be supplied with the gas or liquid for any purpose while said vehicle is in motion.

The particular purposes to which the invention may be applied are various, and while I do not confine myself to any single one I may mention, for the sake of showing the utility of the invention, that it maybe used for railways adapted to be propelled by air or other suitable gas, or by water, and, further, that it is useful for supplying a moving vehicle with any liquid not necessary for its immediate propulsion, but simply for transportation, such as supplying a tank with oil as the vehicle moves.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the axle. Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the valve and its mode of operation.

A is a frame-Work or hanger, which may be supposed to depend from a traveling vehicle. (Not here shown.) This hanger carries at its lower end a hollow axle B, which is provided in its side with the inlet-port b. Upon this axle is journaled the sleeve 0 of the hub D, from which radiate the hollow open-ended spokes or arms E, the outer ends of which are provided with points or projections e.

F is the supply or main in which the gas suitable construction, preferably the common form of movable joint to be found in gas-pipe connections, the object being to permit a free movement or play to the valve-pipes G. These pipes are held normallyin avertical position by reason of weights WV at their lower ends, which make them preserve their equilibrium. In the upperend of each pipe G is a valvechamber g, which is controlled by a ball-valve g, and connected with the pipe above the valve-chamber is a directing-cup H.

The inner ends of the hollow spokes E open through the hub and sleeve to the axle B, and are in such position that as each comes around it opens a communication with the inlet-port Z) of the axle, and as it passes said port the communication is closed.

It may be supposed that the supply or main F is located underground in a suitable tube or tunnel, and that the hanger A, with its parts, all travel within the tube or tunnel, said hanger passing through a suitable continuous opening in the tube, so that all these parts hereindescribedmay be supposed to be entirely out of sight, this being the usual construction of railways of this class.

The operation is as follows: As the car moves along, the hub D and sleeve 0 are turned on the axle by their spokes E bearing successively in the upper ends of the valvepipes G, said pipes being set with precision at intervals, enabling the engagement of each spoke with a valve-pipe as it comes around. The pointed end 6 of each spoke is directed accurately by the cup 11 into the top of the valve-pipe G, and bearing upon the valve 9' therein forces said valve down, so as to open a communication directly from the main F, through thevalve-pipe G, and. through the hollow spoke,whieh at this point has its inner end in communication with the inlet-port b of the axle, 'so that the gas or liquid passes into said axle through the port, and may be directed by any suitable connection from the axle to any suitable point on the vehicle to accomplish the particular purpose intended. Thus each spoke coming in contact with the successive valve-pipes opens the valve therein and establishes a passing communication. The valves close automatically when relieved of the spokes by the pressure from the main. The arrangement is such, as shown in Fig. 2, that two of the spokes of the wheel will be in communication all the time with the valves, their inner ends being also in communication with the inlet-port of the hollow axle, while all the other spokes are cut off from communication with the axle by passing beyond its port.

The movement of the valve-pipes G on their swiveled connection enables them to turn to conform to the changing inclination of the spoke as it passes, thereby insuring a perfect operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An apparatus for supplying moving vehicles with gas or liquid, consisting of the combination of a stationary main or supply receptacle, a series of pipes with valves located at intervals along said main or receptacle and communicating therewith, a hollow axle with an inlet-port in its side and carried by the moving vehicle, and a series of hollow open-ended spokes or arms rotatively connected with the axle and adapted to successively bring their inner ends into communication with its port and their outer ends into connection with the valves of the pipes, whereby said valves are opened to establish communication from the main to the hollow axle, substantially as herein described.

2. An apparatus for supplying moving vehicles with gas or liquid, consisting of the combination of a stationary continuous main or supply receptacle, a series of valve-pipes with valves located at intervals along the main or receptacle and communicating therewith, a hollow axle with an inlet-port in its side and carried by the moving vehicle, a rotating hub carried upon said axle, and a series of hollow open-ended spokes radiating from and opening'through said hub, their inner ends being adapted w successively come into communication with the inlet-port ot' the axle and their outer ends into contact with the valves, whereby they are opened to establish communication between the main and the axle, substantially as herein described.

3. An apparatus for supplying moving vehicles with gas or liquid, consisting of the combination of a stationary continuous main or receptacle, a series of valve-pipes with valves located at intervals along said main or receptacle and communicating therewith,

a hollow axle with a port in its side and carried by the moving vehicle, a rotating sleeve mounted upon said axle, a hub on the sleeve, and a series of open-ended hollow spokes radiating from and opening through the hub and sleeve and having their inner ends adapted to come successively into communication with the port of the axle and their outer ends into contact with the valves of the valve-pipes, whereby they are opened and a communication established between the main and the hollow axle, substantially as herein described.

4. An apparatus for supplying moving vehicles with gas or liquid, consisting of the stationary continuous main or receptacle F, the series of valvepipes G, pivotally connected with said main at intervals and communicating therewith, said pipes having a ball-valve in their upper ends. for closing them, the hollow axle with the portin its side and carried by the vehicle, the rotating hub mounted on said axle, and the series of hollow open-ended spokes radiating from and opening through the hub and having their inner ends adapted to come into com munication successively with the port of the hollow axle and their outer ends provided with points or projections for entering the top of the valve-pipes and pressing down the ballvalves therein to establish a communication between the main and the axle, substantially as herein described.

5. An apparatus for supplying moving vehicles with gas or liquid, consisting of a stationary continuous main or receptacle, a series of valve-pipes communicating with said main or receptacle at intervals and having a pivotal connection therewith providing for their free movement, and weights on the lower ends of said pipes, whereby they are kept in a vertical position, the ballvalves in the upper ends of said pipes, the hollow axle with a port in its side and carried by the vehicle, and the series of hollow open-ended spokes rotatively connected with the axle and adapted to bring their inner ends successively into communication with the port of the axle, and the projections or points on the outer ends of the spokes for entering the valve-pipes and pressing down their valves to establish communication between the main and axle, substantially as herein described.

6. An apparatus for supplying moving vehicles with gas or liquid, consisting of the combination of the main or receptacle F, the pivotally-connected valve-pipes G at intervals communicating with said main or receptacle, the valves in their upper ends, and the directing-cups on the tops of said pipes, the hollow axle carried by the vehicle and having a port in its side, the rotating hub upon said axle, and the series of hollow openended spokes radiating from and opening through the hub and having their inner ends adapted to come successively into communi- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my cation with the port of the axle and their hand. outer ends provided with points or projections for entering the cups of the valve-pipes 5 and pressing down the valves therein to eslVitnesses:

tablish communication between the main and S. H. NOURSE, the axle, substantially as herein described. H. 0. LEE.

LOUIS J. DE PUY. 

